Cardiff City’s devastating injury blow and Callum O’Dowda factor ahead of Bristol City fixture

Callum O’Dowda has performed well since leaving Bristol City. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)

Bristol City stage a huge clash at an early point of their Championship season as they welcome Cardiff City to the first Severnside Derby of the season.

Five games in to the 2022/23 campaign and bragging rights are already at stake with the Bluebirds currently ahead by three points and 11 places in the table.

City however claimed a league double last year, first winning at the Cardiff City Stadium last August before coming from behind to win in January thanks to a Chris Martin brace.

Much has changed since then for both sides, including Callum O’Dowda crossing the Severn divide, changing from the red of Bristol to the blue of Cardiff.

To get a feel for Sunday’s match, Alex Wallace, the founder of Cardiff City fan page ‘The Canton End’ gives an insight as to what Bristol City can expect from their Severnside rivals.

Firstly, what are Cardiff City’s strengths?

Cardiff have adapted to new strengths this season. Defensively we look our best, three clean sheets out of four is a massive improvement on last season. Transitioning the ball from the back into midfield is also something that the new players have adapted to and turned into one of our key strengths in the way we play.

And what are their weaknesses?

Weaknesses is a tough one, but I’d have to say scoring goals. We’re lacking a goalscorer and while it hasn’t hindered us yet there will be games this season where you need the cutting edge through someone who can find the net.

How do you expect Cardiff to line up on Sunday, any team news of note?

Only the the one major loss for the team on Sunday. Sadly Jamilu Collins is out for the rest of the season following an injury against West Brom, he’d been such a key player so far. I’d expect Cardiff to lineup as the following;

Ryan Allsop

Mahlon Romeo, Cedric Kipre, Perry NG, Joel Bagan

Ryan Wintle, Andy Rinomhota, Romaine Sawyers

Callum O Dowda, Max Watters, Sheyi Ojo

With 15 players signed over the summer, how different is the Cardiff side now from the one that lost 3-2 back in January?

The team is a total new look! 15 players is a huge overhaul but it feels like we’re watching a team that has played together for years! The team looks totally different from the side that lost 3-2, it seems it has so much more to give on the pitch. From a team that lacked fight, it seems that this team is so well knit together that they’ll go and give everything for each other on Sunday.

Callum O’Dowda made the move to Cardiff City from Bristol City, how has he settled in?

Callum O’Dowda has been superb, arguably our player of the season so far. One goal and two assists in four appearances are numbers I didn’t expect, however he’s come into the side and proved a lot of people wrong, he’s going to be key in our attacking play against his former club.

It’s early on in the season but what’s the feeling like around the club and ambitions for the remainder of the campaign?

Theres a feeling of confidence around the club at the moment. From how the manager speaks to how the players are performing, Cardiff fans see a lot of promise this season. Some fans do think we can push and possibly sneak into the top six come the end of the campaign, however I do think that most people would be more than happy with a mid table finish come next May.